Poultry shackle suspension

ABSTRACT

A poultry shackle body suspended from an overhead conveyor or a track spaced therebelow by a single axis suspension assembly which includes a pair of rollers pulled along the track by a clevis element pivotally connecting the conveyor to a shaft on which the rollers are mounted. The shaft is non-rotatably fixed to a link member straddled by the yoke. The shackle body is pivotally suspended from the link member.

Jan. 1, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Altenpohl 2,423,560 7/1947 Jas er..................................17 441 POULTRY SHACKLE SUSPENSION Primary Examiner--Robert Peshock Att0rneyHarvey B. Jacobson [76] lnventor:

a .m nn m m Mh p0 m m C m e W m M .1 WR

[57] ABSTRACT A poultry shackle body suspended from an overhead [22] Filed: Apr. 21, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 246,409

conveyor or a track spaced therebelow by a single axis suspension assembly which includes a pair of rollers [52] U.S. Cl. l7/44.1 A22b 5/08 pulled along the track by a clevis element pivotally 7/44 1 connecting the conveyor to a shaft on which the rollers are mounted. The shaft is non-rotatably fixed to a link member straddled by the yoke. The shackle body is pivotally suspended from the link member.

[58] Field of Search.......................

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.132.373 Altenpohl, Jr. 17/441 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures POULTRY SHACKLE SUSPENSION This invention relates to poultry conveyor systems and more particularly to the suspension of poultry shackles from an overhead conveyor.

Poultry shackles releasably carrying birds are pivotally suspended from an overhead conveyor and are conveyed through various processing stations including weighing stations having fixed track sections spaced below the conveyor. Such systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,303 to William F. Altenpohl, Jr. in such a system, the center of gravity of the shackle body substantially lies on the longitudinal axis ofa post portion of the body that is provided with a single axis fulcrum from which the shackle body is suspended when conveyed along the track section. Rollers rotatable about this single axis support the shackle body on the track section and are pulled therealong by a connecting link secured to the overhead conveyor chain.

Because of uneven loading and poor bearing load distribution, in such conveyor systems, rapid and uneven wear often occurs to cause binding of parts and malfunction due to misalignment. For example asymmetrical drag on the rollers due to bearing friction and worn thrust washers, and/or excessively unbalanced loading of the shackle body may cause tilt or yawl of the fulcrum axis along the track section to aggravate the wear problem and possibly cause operational failure of the release mechanism because of misalignment. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an improved suspension assembly between the shackle body and the conveyor which will overcome the foregoing problems.

In accordance with the present invention, the rollers supporting the shackle body along the track section are mounted on a single bearing shaft by sleeve bearings axially projecting beyond the rollers so as to act as end thrust spacers. The bearing shaft is pulled along the track section by a clevis type link to the conveyor engaging the bearing shaft at two axially spaced locations on either side ofa link member connecting the bearing shaft to the post portion of the shackle body. The bearing shaft is non-rotatably fixed to the link member.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

HO. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical installation for the suspension assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by section line 33 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a typical poultry shackle installation similar to those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,29l,303 aforementioned, utilizing a shackle body adapted to be loaded by a bird engaged on the hook 12. The upper post portion 14 of the shackle body is connected to a suspension assembly 16, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which is suspended from a link 18 depending from 'the conveyor chain of an overhead conveyor 20. A split track assembly 22 fixedly positioned along a portion of the conveyor path and spaced below the conveyor, is adapted to support the shackle body as it is moved along the conveyor path. Track support for the shackle body is effected through the suspension assembly 16 from a single pivotal fulcrum axis extending substantially perpendicular to the conveyor path.

As hereinbefore indicated, the present invention resides in the structure of the suspension assembly 16, whereat problems have occurred in previous installations. As in the prior installations, the suspension assembly 16 is provided with a pair of rollers 24 rotatable about the pivotal fulcrum axis for anti-friction movement of the assembly along the track surfaces. The fulcrum axis, constituting the rotational axis for the rollers is established by a single solid roller shaft 26 that is non-rotatable. Accordingly, the roller shaft is fixed in any suitable manner to the suspension link member 28. The post portion 14 is pivotally connected by the pivot 30 to the link member about an axis at right angles to the fulcrum axis. The link member 28 has a cylindrical body portion and a necked down upper portion 32 pro jecting above the track 22. The upper portion as more clearly see in FIG. 2 extends below the rollers 24, and is formed with an aperture 34 through which the roller shaft extends and within which the roller shaft is axially and non-rotatably fixed, by forced fit assembly, for example.

The roller shaft is connected to the conveyor chain link 18 by a pulling clevis member 36 that may be made from a pair of relatively thin sheet metal straps having upper abutting portions 38 brazed to each other and lower yoke arms 40 axially spaced from each other along the roller shaft to straddle the narrow upper portion 32 of the link member 28. The arms 40 are provided with aligned apertures 42 through which the roller shaft extends with a loose fit. The clevis 36 is dimensionally longer somewhat than the vertical spacing between the track and the chain link 18.

The rollers 24 are positioned along the non-rotatable roller shaft 26 on the axially outer sides of the arms 40. Sleeve bearings 44 are fixed within the central openings in the rollers for bearing contact with the roller shaft. Further, the sleeve bearings extend axially beyond the rollers on both axial sides in order to axially space the rollers from the arms 40 and the assembly disc elements 46. The axially outer end portions 48 of the roller shaft are necked down to receive the disc elements 46 and are peened to hold them assembled on the end portions abutting the shoulders 50.

By use of a single, rigid bearing shaft 26, rather than separate roller shaft sections, a fulcrum is more positively established for the pivotally suspended load with its center of gravity substantially on the longitudinal axis of the post 14 of the shackle body. Since the bearing shaft is non-rotatable relative to the load or shackle body, friction and uneven wear otherwise resulting from a rotating bearing shaft, is eliminated. The sleeve bearings 44 not only reduce roller wheel drag but also act as end thrust spacers eliminating the need for separate end thrust washers. Bearing load distribution problems on the other hand are avoided by the pulling force exerted on the bearing shaft at two axially spaced locations through the clevis member 36, precluding any yawl producing moments and insuring true tracking of the rollers on the track assembly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and sescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. in combination with an overhead conveyor for poultry or the like, and a track spaced therebelow, means for suspending a load from the track comprising a link member connected to the load projecting above the track, a single bearing shaft non-rotatably fixed to the link member, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on the shaft on opposite axial sides of the link member and a yoke member connected to the conveyor having a pair of axially spaced arms straddling the link member, said bearing shaft being engaged by the arms of the yoke member.

2. The combination of claim 1 including assembly disc elements fixed to opposite axial ends of the bearing shaft, and bearing means fixed to the rollers for axially positioning the same between the disc elements and the arms of the yoke member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said load is a poultry shackle body pivotally suspended from the link member about an axis perpendicular to the bearing shaft.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said link member includes a body portion below the rollers and a necked down upper portion extending between the rollers, said bearing shaft extending through the upper portion and engaged by the arms of the yoke member axially betwwen the upper portion and the rollers.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said load is a poultry shackle body pivotally suspended from the link member about an axis perpendicular to the bearing shaft.

7. In combination with an overhead track and a poultry shackle body conveyed therealong, means for suspending the body from the track comprising a link member connected to the body and having an upper portion projecting above the track, a bearing shaft nonrotatably fixed to the upper portion of the link member, a pair of rollers supported on the track, bearing means rotatably positioning the rollers on the shaft on opposite axial sides of the link member, and pulling means pivotally connected to the bearing shaft at axially spaced locations for movement of the shaft along the track.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said pulling means comprises a yoke member having axially spaced arms straddling the upper portion of the link member.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft. 

1. In combination with an overhead conveyor for poultry or the like, and a track spaced therebelow, means for suspending a load from the track comprising a link member connected to the load projecting above the track, a single bearing shaft non-rotatably fixed to the link member, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on the shaft on opposite axial sides of the link member and a yoke member connected to the conveyor having a pair of axially spaced arms straddling the link member, said bearing shaft being engaged by the arms of the yoke member.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including assembly disc elements fixed to opposite axial ends of the bearing shaft, and bearing means fixed to the rollers for axially positioning the same between the disc elements and the arms of the yoke member.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said load is a poultry shackle body pivotally suspended from the link member about an axis perpendicular to the bearing shaft.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said link member includes a body portion below the rollers and a necked down upper portion extending between the rollers, said bearing shaft extending through the upper portion and engaged by the arms of the yoke member axially between the upper portion and the rollers.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said load is a poultry shackle body pivotally suspended from the link member about an axis perpendicular to the bearing shaft.
 7. In combination with an overhead track and a poultry shackle body conveyed therealong, means for suspending the body from the track comprising a link member connected to the body and having an upper portion projecting above the track, a bearing shaft non-rotatably fixed to the upper portion of the link member, a pair of rollers supported on the track, bearing means rotatably positioning the rollers on the shaft on opposite axial sides of the link member, and pulling means pivotally connected to the bearing shaft at axially spaced locations for movement of the shaft along the track.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said pulling means comprises a yoke member having axially spaced arms straddling the upper portion of the link member.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft.
 10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said bearing means comprise sleeves fixed to the rollers and projecting axially from opposite sides thereof in bearing contact with the bearing shaft. 